Inter Miami
Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, commonly known as Inter Miami, is an American professional soccer club founded in 2018 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference and plays their home matches at Chase Stadium, with plans to move to Miami Freedom Park in 2026. Since beginning play in 2020, Inter Miami has achieved significant milestones including winning the 2023 Leagues Cup, securing their first Supporters' Shield in 2024, and qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The club gained international attention through co-owner David Beckham and the high-profile signing of Lionel Messi in 2023, with Forbes valuing the team at $1.2 billion as of 2025.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Inter Miami CF was officially awarded as the 25th MLS franchise on January 29, 2018, to the Miami Beckham United group led by former England captain David Beckham. The ownership group, which includes telecommunications leaders Jorge and José Mas, was later renamed Miami Freedom Park LLC. The club announced its official name as Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami on September 5, 2018, and launched play in the 2020 MLS season. Inter Miami marked the return of MLS to South Florida after the Miami Fusion folded following the 2001 season.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2024 season, Inter Miami secured their first Supporters' Shield with a league-record 74 points, finishing the regular season with a 6-2 victory over the New England Revolution. This achievement qualified the club for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as hosts. However, the team was eliminated in the first round of the MLS playoffs, losing 3-2 to Atlanta United in one of the biggest upsets in MLS history. The club also participated in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, achieving a historic 2-1 victory over European club Porto before being eliminated in the round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain.
History
Early years
The pursuit of an MLS franchise in Miami began in 2012 when commissioner Don Garber confirmed the league's renewed interest in the market. David Beckham exercised his expansion option on February 5, 2014, which he had negotiated as part of his 2007 contract with LA Galaxy. The option, facilitated by his business manager Simon Fuller, allowed Beckham to purchase an expansion team at a discounted price of $25 million. After years of stadium site negotiations and ownership changes, the Miami Beckham United group was officially awarded the franchise in January 2018.
Successful period
Inter Miami's most successful period began with the arrival of Lionel Messi in July 2023. The Argentine superstar, along with former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, transformed the club's fortunes. Messi made his debut on July 21, 2023, scoring a dramatic free-kick winner against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. The club went on to win their first major trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup, defeating Nashville SC 10-9 on penalties in the final. This victory qualified Inter Miami for the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time.
Crisis and recovery
Inter Miami faced early challenges during their inaugural seasons from 2020-2023. The club struggled with roster violations, receiving a $2 million fine from MLS in 2021 for exceeding salary cap requirements with signings of Blaise Matuidi and Andrés Reyes. Head coach Diego Alonso left by mutual consent in January 2021, followed by Phil Neville's appointment. The team's performance remained inconsistent until the transformative arrival of Messi, which ended an 11-game winless streak and marked the beginning of their recovery.
Current period
Under the management of Javier Mascherano, who was hired as head coach following Gerardo Martino's tenure, Inter Miami continues to build on their recent success. The club has added other high-profile players including Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. Despite their 2024 playoff disappointment, the team maintains its status as one of MLS's most valuable franchises and continues preparation for their move to the new Miami Freedom Park stadium, expected to open in 2026.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Inter Miami secured their first domestic honor by winning the 2024 Supporters' Shield with a league-record 74 points. The club also reached the 2023 U.S. Open Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo without Messi in the lineup.
Continental and global competitions
The club's major continental achievement came with winning the 2023 Leagues Cup, defeating Nashville SC 10-9 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final. This victory marked Inter Miami's first major trophy and qualified them for the CONCACAF Champions Cup. In the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami became the first CONCACAF club to defeat a European club in official competition with their 2-1 victory over Porto, though they were eventually eliminated in the round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The Inter Miami crest was unveiled on September 5, 2018, designed in style and colors that recall Miami's Art Deco architectural tradition. The logo displays two great white herons with interlocking legs forming the letter M. Between the herons is an eclipse, with the sun bearing seven rays as an homage to the number Beckham often wore as a player. The full achievement displays the team name encircling all with Roman numerals MMXX representing 2020, the inaugural season. The three-pointed shield represents the three main communities of South Florida: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The species of birds in the crest was initially debated, with some speculating them to be flamingos or egrets, but the team confirmed they are white herons.
Traditional home and away kits colors
Inter Miami's official colors are pink, white, black, and a bit of blue, as featured in jerseys such as the "La Palma" edition. The color scheme reflects Miami's vibrant aesthetic and Art Deco heritage, with pink serving as the primary distinctive color that sets the club apart in Major League Soccer.
Traditional club anthem
The source material does not contain information about a traditional club anthem for Inter Miami.
Traditional Rivals
Orlando City SC
Inter Miami has developed a rivalry with Orlando City SC, currently the team's closest neighbors and the only other Florida-based team in MLS. Orlando City joined MLS in 2015 but had to wait until its sixth season to play their first intrastate match against an MLS opponent following Inter Miami's introduction as an expansion franchise in 2020. This rivalry has been officially named the "Florida Derby" by MLS. The teams have faced each other in significant matches, including the 2025 Leagues Cup semifinals where Inter Miami defeated Orlando City 3-1 with Messi scoring a decisive second-half brace.
Miami FC
The club also maintains an intracity rivalry with USL Championship club Miami FC. This local rivalry is known as the "Miami Clásico," representing the competition between the two professional soccer clubs in the Miami metropolitan area.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Inter Miami's current primary sponsorship is with the Royal Caribbean Group. In April 2021, the club announced a multi-layered three-year deal with AutoNation. Additional partnerships include Tudor as the official timekeeper (announced March 2024), Lowe's (April 2024), and Visa with exclusive international activation rights (May 2024). The club also has partnerships with Heineken as the official beer, Duracell as the official power partner, and XBTO as the Official Cryptofinance Partner.
Nicknames
The source material does not contain specific information about official nicknames for Inter Miami, though the club is commonly referred to as "Inter Miami" as a shortened version of its full name Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami.
Ownership and finances
The ownership group, originally formed as Miami Beckham United in 2013, now trades under Miami Freedom Park LLC. In September 2021, David Beckham and the Mas brothers bought out Marcelo Claure and Masayoshi Son's stakes, with Ares Management also added to the ownership group. Forbes valued Inter Miami at $1.2 billion as of 2025, making it the second most valuable MLS club. The club's estimated revenue for 2024 was projected to exceed $200 million, a significant increase from the $50-60 million reported in 2022.
Traditions and culture
Inter Miami has four official supporters groups: The Siege, Southern Legion, Vice City 1896, and Nación Rosa Y Negro. The club's cultural impact expanded dramatically following Messi's arrival, with the unveiling ceremony gaining over 3.5 billion views worldwide and Inter Miami becoming the top-selling team across all sports on e-commerce retailer Fanatics.
Stadium
Inter Miami currently plays at Chase Stadium (formerly DRV PNK Stadium) in Fort Lauderdale, built on the site of the former Lockhart Stadium. The soccer-specific stadium cost $60 million to renovate and create, with a current capacity of 21,550 seats following expansions. The stadium features pyro rooftop fireworks and is oriented north-south to prevent sun glare for goalkeepers. The club plans to move to Miami Freedom Park in 2026, a 25,000-seat stadium that will be part of a $1 billion mixed-use development on 131 acres of public land near Miami International Airport.